Gas lighter



VV. MALTNER May 9, 1967 GAS LIGHTER Filed Nov. 13, 1964 United States Patent O 3,318,346 GAS LIGHTER Wolfgang Maltner, Oberstedten, Taunus, Germany, as-

signor to Heinrich Maltner G.m.b.H., Offenbach am Main, Germany Filed Nov. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 410,858 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 19, 1963, M 58,977 6 Claims. (Cl. 141-293) The present invention relates to lighters of the type used for lighting cigars, cigarettes and the like.

More particularly, the present invention relates to that type of lighter which burns a combustible gas.

It is customary for lighters of 4this type to have a container in which the gas is situated so that at the option of the operator the gas can be discharged and ignited. From time to time it is of course necessary to replenish the supply of gas which is cotnained in this container. For this purpose the container of the gas lighter is provided with a suitable valve mechanism adapted to be placed in engagement with a pressurized tank, in the form of a small ampule, in which the combustible gas is situated in pressurized and even in liquid form. By placing the filling valve of the container in engagement with this pressurized tank it is possible to place the interior of the con.- tainer of the lighter in communication with the interior of the tank so that the gas will ow from the tank into the container of the lighter in order to till the latter container.

rl`hus, with this conventional construction the opening and closing of the valve carried by the container of the gas lighter is determined solely by the relative position of the pressurized tank with respect to the gas lighter, and the known structure of this type unavoidably is quite complex and expensive.

While it has already been proposed to simplify structures of the above type by providing the container of the gas lighter with a non-return valve which will simply open automatically in response to the pressure of the fluid owing into the container from the pressurized tank, it has been found in practice that such a construction does not function properly at all time. Of course, the nonreturn valve is designed to respond simply to pressure so that reliance is not made upon mechanical actuation, but at the same time the non-return valve is not efficient since it will not always provide the desired results. For example, it is possible -for the press-ure in the interior of the container of the gas lighter to urge the non-return valve to its closed position with a force as great as the force with which the fluid in the pressurized tank tends to open the non-return valve, so that under these conditions the non-return valve simply will not open and the container of the gas lighter cannot be iilled. This undesirable result can take place, for example, when the lighter has been just used for a relatively long time so that it is quite warm and the heat of the lighter increases the pressure of the gas within the container thereof, or similar results may occur when the container has been only partly iilled with the combustible fluid.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to greatly simplify the conventional structure for filling the container of a gas lighter of the above type.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a gas lighter of the above type an exceedingly simple non-return valve which will operate very reliably to admit into the container the combustible gas required for the operation of the lighter.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure which will automatically reduce the pressure in the interior of the container when a tank of pressurized combustible uid is placed in engagement with the non-return valve thereof to ll the container.

lCe

With the above objects in view the invention includes, in a gas lighter, a container which is adapted to contain the combustible gas of the gas lighter and which is adapted to be placed in communication with a pressurized tank of combustible fluid to receive the combustible fluid therefrom when it is necessary to replenish the contents of the container. This container has a wall, and this wall carries a non-return valve means adapted to be placed in communication with the interior of the pressurized tank so that the fluid will ow from the interior thereof into the non-return valve means to automatically open the latter and enter into the interior of the container. In addition, the structure of the invention includes a pressure-relief valve means which automatically relieves the pressure in the interior of the container in response to placing of the non-return valve means in communication with the pressurized tank, so that in this way the pressure of the uid flowing from the tank to the non-return valve means is always greater than the pressure acting on the nonreturn valve means in the interior of thecontainer, and thus the non-return valve means will always operate reliably to admit the iiuid under pressure into the interior of the container.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specilic embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of one possible embodiment of a structure according to the invention shown together with a fragmentarily illustrated portion of a pressurized tank containing the combustible .uid which is to be supplied to the interior of the container of the gas lighter; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of another embodiment of a structure according to the invention carried by a container wall of a gas lighter to control the emission of combustible fluid into the container.

Referring now to FIG. l, there is shown therein the wall 3 of a container portion of a gas lighter which may be conventional except for the structure illustrated in FIG. l as carried by the wall 3. This wall 3 threadedly carries an insert 1 which forms a valve housing of the invention, and at its outer end the insert 1 has a ange extending over a sealing ring 2 clamped between this tlange and the wall 3l in a recess of the latter, as shown in FIG. 1, so that in this way the uid-tight connection between the valve housing 1 and the wall 3 is provided. I The threaded insert or valve housing 1 is provided at its outer portion with a cylindrical recess 4 which serves to guide the neck 311 of a pressurized container 32, .in the form of a small ampule, and this tank 32 containing a pressurized combustible fluid which, while it is in gas form when in the Icontainer 3, may be in liquid form in the tank 32. The outer diameter of the neck 31` of the tan-k 32 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of` the cylindrical recess 4 so that the neck 3.1 can be moved easily and with a certain clearance into the cylindrical recess 4.

The housing 1 has a transverse wall provided with an outer side communicating with the recess 4 and with an inner side communicating with the interior o-f the container 3 in a manner described in greater detail below, and this transverse wall is formed with a bore 5 passing therethrough. An elongated member 6 of the invention extends with clearance through the bore 5 and beyond the inner and outer sides of the transverse wall of the housing 1 which is formed with the bore 5. At its inner Y Vvalve means. f e Vwill in a'manner described below ow through the bore 1'1 land the. transverse bores 12 againstthe inner surface of Y the elastic member14 to displace the-latter away from Y ftheY elongated member 6 so that this combustible lluidwillside this transverse wall is provided with a valve seat` 7 surrounding the bore 5. The housing 1 includes an elongated tubular portion 8 extending inwardly beyond the transverse wall thereof and terminating at its innermost end in an inwardly directed ange 10, this wall 8 being formed adjacent to the seat 7 but at they inside of the container 3 with a plurality of bores 9 which pass through the wall 8.

The elongated member 6 of the invention is formed with '-an axial bore 11 which is open at only one end, namely the outer end of the bore 11 situated at the outermost extremity of theelongated member 6, this outermost extremity being situated in the cylindrical recess 4. Thus, the outer end of the elongated member 6 may be formed with-a transverse slot communicating with the axial bore y11. Atfa portion of the axial bore 11 distant from its outer open end this bore 11 communicates with a plurality of transverse bores 12 which are formed through the wall 1 of the elongated; member'6, and in addition the elongatedv f the-exterior surface of the elongated member 6, and this elastic tubular member Y14 covers the groove 13 and of course the bores 12,.'Y In order to prevent axial movement of the elastictube 15 `along-,the elongated member-@this member 6 is formed outwardly of the groove 13 with an additional shallow annular-.groove 15 extending in both directionsbeyond the'Y groove '13 and'receiving the elastic member 14 sok that Vthesides of the groove 15 form e shoulders 'which-prevent' axial `movement of theelastic member'14relative to the elongated member 6.

The elongated member k.tfhas vthus far described to-x gether with the .elastic member 14,!form a non-return Fluid 'under pressure from the tank 32 enter into the container 3., However, `the pressure in the exterior ofthe-tube 14 of the non-returnvalve means ofv the Viluid derived-from the tank 32,y and ,thus there is iluid into the interior of the container 3 which as a result interiore-of the container 3- Vmay Vbe greatenough at the provided in accordance with the invention a pressure-.relief valve means-which guarantees that when the tank V32 vcornmunicates with the non-return valve means the pressure in the-interior` of the container 3 is relieved.

ThisY pressure-relief valve means includes the valve member 18 which engages the valve seat 7 and which is situated betweena flange .16 of the elongated member 6 and a snap ring 17 carried bythe elongatedmember 6 in an annular ygroove thereof. Thus, when the valve member V18 lis displaced downwardly away from the seat 'above atmospheric pressure Vwhen the valve member 18 is displaced away from the valve seat 7, nevertheless this pressure in thecontainer 3 will never be greater than the pressure of the uid from they tank 32 which seeks to open the non-return valve means so as to enter into the container 3.; A spring 1-9 bears at one end against the ange 10 and at its opposite end against ring 20 which freely surrounds the elongated member 6 and which bears against the` snap ring 17, so-that the spring l19urges the pressurerelief valve means 7,118' to its closed position. It will also be noted that the spring 19fmaintains the elongated member 6 in its outermost position. a Y

The particular pressurized tank 32 shown in FIG. 1

f 7 the interior of the container 3 can communicate to 1 some extent through the Vgap in the bore 5- whichy surhas in its neck 31 a sealing ring 33 `defining a discharge opening 34, and a diameter of this opening 34 is somewhat smaller than the exterior diameter of the elongated member 6 at its portion which is situated in the cylindrical bore 4. A spring 35 in the neck 31 urges a ball valve member 36 against the bore 34 so as to close the discharge opening of the tank 32.

When the tank 32 yis placed in the position of FIG. 1 and then moved downwardly into the cylindrical bore 4, the top end of the elongated member 6 is received in the sealing ring 33 and the tip of the elongated member 6 will displace the ball valve member 36 in opposition to the spring 35 away from the sealing ring 33 so that the interior of the tank 32 will now be in communication with the bore 11. The spring 35 is of course weaker than the spring 19, and after the Aball 36 hasv been displaced to a given extent away from the sealing ring 33 the continued inward movement of the neck 31 into the bore 4 will result in a downward displacement of the elongated memberl 6 into the housing 1 so as to open the pressurerelief valve means.

Thus,'the result of inserting the neck 31 of the tank 32 vinto the opening 4 is tov mechanically open the discharge 33, 36 of the tank 32 as well as to mechanically open the pressure-relief valve means 7, 18. The fluid under pressure from the tank 32 will reach the groove 13 through the transverse bores 12 and will displace the elastic tubej14 outwardly so that the uid under pressure from the tank 32- will automatically act wit-h its pressure on'the tube 14.to open the non-return valve means and admit of the opening ofthe pressure-relief valve means is at a pressure lwhichwhile perhaps somewhat above atmospheric pressure'nevertheless is less than the pressure of the Huid inthe tank 32. The expansion of the tube 14 by the gas under pressure will of course admit the combustible gas out from the tank 32 into the container 3. The pressurized iiuid ows down the bore 11 through the transverse bores 12 and into the groove 13 from where it displaces a portion of the tube-14 away from the elongated member 6to form a gap through which the ypressu-rized combustible fluid can reach the interior of the container 1 flowing downwardly through the open bottom end of the valveV housing 1 where the inwardly directed flange 10 is located.` At the same time the pressure 'in the interior of the container 3 can communicate through the opening or openings 9 and through the open pres'sure-relief valve means 7, 18 with the gap surrounding the elongated member 6 in the bore 5 and of course passed the part of theelongated member 6 which projects outwardly beyond the transverse wall of the housing 1 and through -the clearance around the neck v31 .in the recess 4 to the outer atmosphere, so that in this way the pressure in the interior of the container 3 can drop to guarantee proper functioning of the non-return valve means.

Thev structure of the yinvention which is illustrated in FIG. 2 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 1 and `operates in the same way, so that the corresponding elements are indicated with the same reference characters. The major difference between the embodiment of FIG. 2 and that of FIG. 1 is that in theembodiment of FIG. 2 the elongated member `6 is formed between the transverse bores 12 and the valve'seat `7 with an enlarged bulging portion 22,v and instead of an elastic member 14 an elastic member 21 is provided covering the transverse bores v 12 but in addition extending around the bulging portion away from the bores 12 to admit gas under pressure into the container and on the other hand the displacement of the valve member 23 formed by the upper portion of member 21 away from the valve seat 7 will guarantee that the interior of the container 3 .is at a pressure lower than the pressure of the gas from the pressurized tank.

Of course, many variations within the scope of the invention are possible. For example, the elastic flexible tube can be fixed with a suitable clamping ring to the elongated hollow member 6, and a different type of support may be provided for the bottom end of the spring 19. All types of valve structure can be used at the discharge end of the Vtank 32 such as, for example, a type which does not require actuation by an axially bored elongated member 6 but which instead is screwed on the container so as to provide automatically the required filling. Furthermore, it is possible to situate the pressure-relief valve means at a location different from that shown where it can be actuated independently of the filling valve formed by the non-return valve means of the invention.

It will thus be seen that with the structure of the invention the pressure in the interior of the container is artificially maintained during filling of the container at a value low enough to guarantee proper oper-ation of the simple non-return valve means. It is to be emphasized that the pressure-relief valve means of the invention guarantees the proper operation of the non-return valve means and does not function simply to provide, for example, `an

indication that the container 3 has been filled by permitting an escape of visible gas through the pressure-relief valve means to the outer atmosphere to indicate to the operator that the container 3 is completely filled and therefore the filling operation can be terminated.

Of course, the material used for the elastic tubular nonretu-rn valve member '14 or for the elastic tubular nonreturn valve member 21 will be a synthetic rubber or the like which will not be damaged in any way by the combustible fluid or by expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.

It is apparent that there is no particular inconvenience or difficulty involved in providing the elongated member 6 with a second sealing member such as the member 18 which forms the valve member of the pressure-relief valve means. In particular in the case of FIG. 2 a second sealing member is not even required since the valve member of the pressure-relief valve means is formed simply by an extension 23 of the same tubular valve member 21 which forms the non-return'valve means of the invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of gas lighters differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described 'as embodied in iilling'valves for gas lighters, lit is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gas lighter, in combination, a container adapted to contain a combustible gas land adapted to be filled with the combustible gas from a pressurized tank which contains the combustible gas under pressure in liquid form, for example, said container having a wall provided with an aperture; pressure responsive non-return v-alve means carried by said wall of said container and -comprising a hollow tubular member slidably a-rranged in said aperture and having end portions respectively located within and without said container for placing the interior of the latter in communication with the interior of a pressurized tank when the latter is placed in engagement with said hollow tubular member, said non-return Valve means opening only in response to an increase in the pressure within said hollow tubular member to admit fluid into said container; land a pressure-relief Venting valve means carried `by said Wall of said container and said hollow tubular member, said hollow tubular member being slida'ble from a normal inactive position into an active position deeper into said container in response to placing of said hollow tubular member in communication with said tank and said pressure-relief valve means responding to such sliding and opening for relieving the pressure in the interior of said container so that the pressure in the interior of the container cannot maintain said pressure responsive non-return valve means closed in opposition to the pressure of the fluid acting on said pressure responsive non-return valve means to -open the latter.

2. In a gas lighter, in combination, a container adapted to contain a combustible gas and adapted to be filled with the combustible gas from a pressurized tank which contains the combustible gas under pressure, said container having a wall provided with an aperture; pressure responsive non-return valve means carried by said wall of said container for placing the interior thereof in communication with the interior of a pressurized tank when the latter is placed in engagement with said non-return valve means, the latter responding to the pressure of the contents of the pressurized tank to automatically open and admit fluid therefrom into said container; and a pressure-relief venting valve means also carried by said wall of said container and responding to placing of said pressure responsive non-return Valve means in -communication with said tank for relieving the pressure in the interior of said container so that the pressure in the interior of the container cannot maintain said pressure responsive non-return valve means closed in opposition to the pressure of the fluid acting 0n said pressure responsive non-return valve means to open the latter, said pressure responsive non-return valve means including an elongated tube slida'bly movable in said aperture and formed with a bore which is open at only one end of said tube and which is adapted to be placed in communication with the tank, said tube being formed with transverse bores communicating with said axial bore and surrounded by an elastic tube which normally closes said transverse bores, the pressure of the fluid flowing along said axial bore from the tank acting through said transverse bores on said elastic tube to displace the latter for opening said pressure responsive nonreturn valve means, and said relief-valve means comprising cooperating valve portions respectively provided in said wall and said elongated tube, said cooperating valve portions being normally in Valve-closing engagement and being separable into Valve-opening position in response to sliding movement of said elongated tube deeper into said container when said elongated tube is placed in engagement with the tank.

3. In a gas lighter, in combination, a container adapted to contain a combustible gas and adapted to -be filled from a pressurized tank, said container having a wall provided with an aperture; a valve housing carried by said Iwall and located in said aperture; an elongated member carried =by said valve housing for longitudinal movement relative thereto into and out of the interior of said container and formed with an axial bore which is open at only one end of said elongated member, said elongated member being formed distant from said one end thereof with a plurality of transverse bores communicating with said axial bore and situated in the interior `of said con- .7, tainer; an elastic tube carried by said elongated member surrounding and resiliently pressing against said elongated member and covering said transverse bores thereof so Vthat when a pressurized tank is placed in communication with said open end vof said axial bore the fluidunder pressure in saidtank will ow through said axial bore and transverse bores to act against :said elastic tubular member to displace the latter from said elongated member thus permitting they lluid to ow from said t'ank'into ythe interior of said container; pressure-relief venting valve means carried by said elongated member lbetween said transverse bores` thereof and said housing; and biasingv means permanentlyy biasing said pressure-relief valve `means toy closed position, said elongated member being displaced inV direction'deeper into said container against they force of said biasing ymeans by placing of .said tank in `engagement with said elongated member at said open lend. of said axial bore thereof for automatically opening said pressure-relief venting valve means, so that when s ber carried by saidvalve housing for longitudinal movement relative thereto into andout of the interior of said container and formed with an axial bore which is open atk onlyoneend of said elongated member, said elongated member. being formed distant from said one end thereof with a plurality of transverse bores communicating VWith- Vsaid axialfbore and situated in the interior of said container; an elastic tube carried by said elongated member surrounding and resiliently pressing against said elongated vmember and covering said transverse bores thereof VKso that when a pressurized tank is placed in communication with said open end of said axial bore the'uid under pressureV invsaid tank will flow through said axial bore member to displace the latter from said elongated member lthus permitting the fluid to -ow from said tank into the interior of said container;pressurefrelief venting valve means `carried by said elongated member |between said transverse bores thereof and said housing;` and biasing "means permanently biasing said pressure-relief valve means to closed position, said elongated member *being displaced vin direction deeper into said container againstkthe force of said biasing means by placing of said tank in engagement with said elongated member at .said open endof said vaxial bore thereof for automatically opening said pressure-relief rventing valve means, so that When fluid flows from said tank through said axial and trans-v 'and'tr'ansverse bores4 tok act against said elastictubular f verse bores the pressure acting at the 'exterior of said elastic member is less than the pressure of the uid acting against the interior thereof to displace .the latter from said elongated member, said elongated member having an outwardly Ibulging portion around which said elastic member extends and said housing having a transverse wall formed with a bore through which said elongated member passes and providing at the interior of said .housing 'a valve seat for the part of said elastic member which extends around said bulging portion of said elongated member, whereby the part of the elastic member at said bulging portion forms together with said venting Valve seat said pressure-relief valve means.

`5. In a gas lighter, in combination, a container adapted to contain a combustible gas and to be lled therewith from a pressurized tank which contains such gas under pressure, said container having a container wall provided with an aperture therein; a hollow tubular valve body movably mounted in said aperture and having an inner end located within said container and an outer end yaccessible from outside of said container, said valve lbody beingmovable in said aperture from a normal valveclosing position deeper into said container to a valveopeningposition; means permanently biasing said valve body into said valve-closing position; venting-valve means mounted partly on said container Wall and partly on said hollow tubular valve body, said venting-valve means being closed when said tubular valve body is in said valve closing position thereof and being opened by Vmovement of said -hollow tubular valve lbody from valve-closing into valve-opening position; and pressure responsive nonreturn valve means carried entirely by said movable tubular' valve body at the inner end thereof communicating with the interior of .said tubular vvalve body and the interior of said container and adapted to be opened `by increase of pressure within said tubular valve body land automatically closingk when such pressure within said tu-bular valve body decreases.

A6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said pressure responsive non-return valve means includes an elastic tube carried by said hollow tubular body, said elastic tube being 4displaced by increase in the pressure of, uid in the interior of said hollow tubular body. Y

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,040 5/1927 Vogt l37-525X 2,275,937 3/1942 Baker IS7-525.3 X 2,769,325 11/1956 Storch 141-325 X 2,929,416 3/'1960 Farber 137-5253 X 3,216,466v 1l/1965 Simko 141-349 LAvERNE D. GE1GER,'Primary Examiner.

SAMUELL ROTHBERG, Examiner.

H. S, BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A GAS LIGHTER, IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND ADAPTED TO BE FILLED WITH THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS FROM A PRESSURIZED TANK WHICH CONTAINS THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE IN LIQUID FORM, FOR EXAMPLE, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A WALL PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE; PRESSURE RESPONSIVE NON-RETURN VALVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AND COMPRISING A HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER SLIDABLY ARRANGED IN SAID APERTURE AND HAVING END PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED WITHIN AND WITHOUT SAID CONTAINER FOR PLACING THE INTERIOR OF THE LATTER IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF A PRESSURIZED TANK WHEN THE LATTER IS PLACED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID NON-RETURN VALVE MEANS OPENING ONLY IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE IN THE PRESSURE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER TO ADMIT FLUID INTO SAID CONTAINER; AND A PRESSURE-RELIEF VENTING VALVE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AND SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER BEING SLIDABLE FROM A NORMAL INACTIVE POSITION INTO AN ACTIVE POSITION DEEPER INTO SAID CONTAINER IN RESPONSE TO PLACING OF SAID HOLLOW TUBULAR MEMBER IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TANK AND SAID PRESSURE-RELIEF VALVE MEANS RESPONDING TO SUCH SLIDING AND 